LEGO Top Gear

kez

LEGO are releasing Technic Top Gear sets next year.
https://www.licenseglobal.com/toys/bbc-studios-lego-group-speed-top-gear-set 

I personally would love it if they created something from the original 3 presenter's era, although I guess we shall wait and see :-D

TheOriginalSimonB

Noel Edmonds, Angela Rippon and William Woollard?

kez

TheOriginalSimonB said:

Noel Edmonds, Angela Rippon and William Woollard?

My bad, I meant from my era: Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

andhe

I always liked Tiff, Quentin Wilson and Vicki Butler-Henderson.

dmcc0

Interesting to see what they do with this and the Technic theme; wonder if it'll be more sets like the Chiron or more smaller sets like the Corvette?  I am a bit concerned it's just going to be an extra layer of licencing on top of the licencing for the car brands though, unless they are doing generic cars; guess we'll have to wait and see.  Would've thought Speed Champions would've been a good fit for Top Gear.

As per my comment on the Brickset article, hope we get a Technic Fig Stig

CCC

I cannot see the BBC wanting to create sets based on Amazon Prime's stars.

Although as it is technic, chances are there will be no minifigures involved anyway.

Mr_Cross

I don't get it. The sets will be excellent irrespective of any license. 'Top Gear' hasn't been funny or relevant for a decade, LEGO doesn't need this to sell the sets... why would they want to appeal to a specific subset of a group they already appeal to with Technic?
I reckon this was a poison chalice they had to take in order to get something else... His Dark Materials? I dunno, just feels like a mis-match to me.

MaffyD

Odd. I worry now that some marques will be TG branded and not SC or the Technic flagship set. Which means a messy collection. Will wait and see. Maybe they will be dioramas of the stupid stunts they pull? They already have the license for the vehicles, now they can do the challenges (such as the amphibious vehicles, cheap cars, limos, motorhomes and various things involving caravans getting destroyed). Not sure I'd bother to get them, but, whatevs...
Edit: just realised they are all going to be Technic sets, so no dioramas. Can't think WHAT they might be - just release them as normal Technic - what market do they think they are going for?

drdavewatford

Mr_Cross said:

I dunno, just feels like a mis-match to me.

Not to me. I agree that a LEGO tie-in feels a bit....unnecessary, but the brand is still recognisable worldwide.

It's fashionable to slag off Top Gear post-Clarkson et al, but in truth it's still decent enough entertainment for petrolheads. I do sometimes miss the terrible trio, but have still watched and generally enjoyed every episode since they left.

Speedman29

TheOriginalSimonB said:

Noel Edmonds, Angela Rippon and William Woollard?

Could see a return to the old 80s Technic mini(maxi)figures then. A standard minifigure doesn't have the required articulation to properly "Woollard" !

PJ76uk

drdavewatford said:

Mr_Cross said:

I dunno, just feels like a mis-match to me.

Not to me. I agree that a LEGO tie-in feels a bit....unnecessary, but the brand is still recognisable worldwide.

It's fashionable to slag off Top Gear post-Clarkson et al, but in truth it's still decent enough entertainment for petrolheads. I do sometimes miss the terrible trio, but have still watched and generally enjoyed every episode since they left.

Have to agree and since the trio left the BBC we have had a double helping since The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime is basically Top Gear with a different branding...

KungFuKenny

dmcc0 said:

As per my comment on the Brickset article, hope we get a Technic Fig Stig

As long as it isn’t the Stig’s American Cousin 😬...

drdavewatford said:

It's fashionable to slag off Top Gear post-Clarkson et al, but in truth it's still decent enough entertainment for petrolheads. I do sometimes miss the terrible trio, but have still watched and generally enjoyed every episode since they left.

Maybe they just needed a way to re-use the Matt LeBlanc fig from #21319 😉

TheBigLegoski

Back in the day when TopGear was presented by the Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, who became the driving force behind the show, the entire format, the sort of humour they brought along, and the entire reason the show became as popular as it did internationally, I would have tipped my hat to TLG and thought 'wonderful idea to team up'. However, TopGear has become irrelevant, a total PC cringe fest, and just plain boring ever since the BBC sacked Clarkson. TLG should have teamed up with Clarkson,Hammond, and May over on 'The Grand Tour' instead.
Also why does TLG need this license for something they have already been doing on their own successfully for such a long time?! TLG makes outstanding Technic sets of cars etc. Partnering up with the BBC is a horrible idea!

TheBigLegoski

I would like to add: "TLG makes outstanding Technic sets of cars etc." from what I can tell since I am no expert on Lego Technic. I probably fall into the trap of thinking that certain Technic sets seem great because how good they look, when according to hardcore Technic fans they lack functionality, which to them is deemed 'style over substance'.

I only had one perhaps rather simple Technic set #8660 as a child (which I really loved BTW and played a lot with), and what I gather from having read a couple of Technic reviews here on Brickset posted recently, is that quite a few people who seem to be very knowledgeable about both engineering and Technic Lego sets, critique many of today's sets because they for all their complexity lack proper functionality. I suppose, if that sort of critique is valid, then TLG should address those issues. If somehow by obtaining a license, TLG is spurred on to improve upon such issues having to do with functionality (gears not properly working, suspension being too weak to support the weight of the model, cranes struggling to work and not being able to scoop up dirt etc.), well then that is good for all Lego fans.

I still fail to see the appeal of a BBC TopGear license. Many of the vehicles built on TopGear either intentionally hilariously failed to work as intended, or were built for the sake and joy of completely trashing them.

As a child the last thing I wanted to do was trash my #8660 Artic Rescue Unit. I loved it because it had great play value and not just because it included two awesome Technic figures. All the actual technic aspects functioned really well. You could drive it around, and the steering mechanism worked well. The technic mechanism to open the back of the vehicle worked well. These things taught me as a child how such mechanical things actually function.

monkeyhanger

^ The Matt LeBlanc era of Top Gear was awful, but it's not bad with the latest iteration of Paddy McGuinness and Freddy Flintoff taking the piss out of that Harris bloke. That's what makes TG entertaining - not being factual about cars, but arsing about in cars.

TheBigLegoski

@monkeyhanger 

Arsing about cars is what used to make TopGear great! But I couldn't care less about all the PC stooches running around on that show nowadays. I always hated that corny sitcom Friends, never thought Leblanc was a suitable replacement for Clarkson, May, and Hammond. Matt is neither funny nor knowledgeable  enough about cars. Btw. I can't believe that somehow in today's political climate that tame show Friends is now deemed controversial. Last time I watched a bit of Topgear for the first time in years a couple of months ago I still thought it was trite, tame, and dull.

Bad move on TLG's part to team up with BBC!

CCC

monkeyhanger said:

^ The Matt LeBlanc era of Top Gear was awful, but it's not bad with the latest iteration of Paddy McGuinness and Freddy Flintoff taking the piss out of that Harris bloke. That's what makes TG entertaining - not being factual about cars, but arsing about in cars.

Or complaining about clocks like Noel Edmonds ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWuZyRsRxWU&t=0m20s

Entertainment at it's finest. :-)

Shib

I think I'm in a massive minority in that I thought Top Gear stopped being funny long before they got rid of Clarkson, May and Hammond, my parents used to watch it, so I saw a few episode but honestly I didn't think it was funny at all, once you'd seen one of the "challenges" the formula of the show was fairly obvious and I didn't find any of the typical "lads banter" humour funny enough to carry the show. 

More on topic it does seem unnecessary to add Top Gear branding to Technic sets, to be fair the James Bond branding on the Aston Martin seemed a bit off to me - I've always assumed it was making use of the licence supposedly acquired to use in a cancelled Dimensions pack. 

It's not the first time that there have been Top Gear branded construction toys though...



Pretty certain that the LEGO designs will be better than that but it does still pose the question as to why they need the additional level of licencing. Guess we'll have to wait and see what's revealed to get an answer on that. 

Bumblepants

I imagine the ploy here is similar to Ideas. Try and get press and attention from a fandom or group not normally interested in Lego. 

GeordiePaul

I wonder if it’ll come with a crew member for Jeremy Clarkson to abuse? Delightful man.

I’d rather see a Chris Goffey minifig from the 80’s version. Only because his son, Danny, is the drummer in Supergrass, and that’s my favourite band. I know it’s a weird reason, but I’m sticking with it :-)

sid3windr

Hah, I knew this thread would end up in a TGT/Harris/Leblanc/Evans/... fest :-D

Fwiw, I thought Joey was a lot better than Chris Evans.. and/but I have to admit I have not gotten around to the last season due to losing interest.

So while for the "Clarkson/Hamster/May" era TG-heads (like myself) it would sort of make more sense to produce a TGT-set instead.. I'm not sure that would sell well.

However I can't really imagine a Top gear Technic set being anything else than a Toybota (which is from the Clarkson era after all) .....

Now, if it were yet another System set showing off the recording studio, a bit like Central Perk, but then hosting a SC-scale Toybota and friends....

monkeyhanger

TheBigLegoski said:

@monkeyhanger 

Arsing about cars is what used to make TopGear great! But I couldn't care less about all the PC stooches running around on that show nowadays. I always hated that corny sitcom Friends, never thought Leblanc was a suitable replacement for Clarkson, May, and Hammond. Matt is neither funny nor knowledgeable  enough about cars. Btw. I can't believe that somehow in today's political climate that tame show Friends is now deemed controversial. Last time I watched a bit of Topgear for the first time in years a couple of months ago I still thought it was trite, tame, and dull.

Bad move on TLG's part to team up with BBC!

I must admit, I hate Friends with a passion - spending 30 mins in the local Lego shop recently whole the theme tune seems to be blaring out on a loop in there.

Apart from the Big Bang theory set, Lego seem to jump in well after a show has peaked - Friebds and Simpsons being the prime examples.

I can imagine Red Dwarf being the next big contender if there's an idea nomination on the go. I used to love Red Dwarf though.

KungFuKenny

sid3windr said:

However I can't really imagine a Top gear Technic set being anything else than a Toybota (which is from the Clarkson era after all) .....

Now, if it were yet another System set showing off the recording studio, a bit like Central Perk, but then hosting a SC-scale Toybota and friends....

@sid3windr
 
I agree the Toybota is special, but the car I would be in line on day one to buy would be "Oliver" the Opel Kadett (from the Botswana Special)... or maybe "Geoff"  :-)

Astrobricks

Technic Reliant Robin!
https://youtu.be/QQh56geU0X8

catwrangler

monkeyhanger said:

Apart from the Big Bang theory set, Lego seem to jump in well after a show has peaked - Friends and Simpsons being the prime examples.

That's an interesting point - those three shows (plus Doctor Who and The Flintstones) have all reached the point where they have a huge enough fanbase that if even a small fraction of them buy a tie-in Lego set, there's a lot of money to be made. Of all those shows, The Flintstones had the shortest original run, but it's been syndicated forever and had endless one-off specials and films produced.

There can't be too many shows that formula applies to, once you rule out ones that either lack a distinctive visual setting or vehicle that would make a good Lego set, and the ones that are too violent/sexual to match Lego's (admittedly sometimes rather elastic) brand values. 

I'm not a TopGear fan and hadn't realised it was so popular internationally. I suppose the challenge is also to get people who come for the Top Gear sets engaged enough that they stick around for the whole Technic line...

TheBigLegoski

monkeyhanger said:

I must admit, I hate Friends with a passion - spending 30 mins in the local Lego shop recently whole the theme tune seems to be blaring out on a loop in there.

♫♪♫♪♪♪♫

Yes! Yes! YES! YEEEAAAAS!!!

I am not the only one who hates Friends with a passion.

How wonderful! Truly fantastic.

ps.

Still, that Lego Ideas set #21319 was done really well. The orange couch is nicely designed. If that set would be available heavily discounted (like 50%, probably not gonna happen) I would be interested in it just as a parts pack.

CCC

monkeyhanger said:

I must admit, I hate Friends with a passion - spending 30 mins in the local Lego shop recently whole the theme tune seems to be blaring out on a loop in there.

It's like you're always stuck in second gear...

donutboy

It's gonna be something weird like the Top Gear Track-Tor or Reliant Robin space shuttle. There's no need for a Top Gear licence to do, say, a Ford or a Jag. I agree that it seems a pointless licence otherwise.

Legoloverman

This might be a good time to confess I sneaked an Exo Suit into the last official Lego/Top Gear crossover, and literally nobody noticed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7YDMt7jOfU

sid3windr

A Reliant Robin would be good too, yup. Or Oliver. Or... a caravan. Or a caravan on rails. Or a car on rails. Or a car that's also a speedboat (heh). Or ... plenty of things to choose from, now I'm quite curious what it's going to be...

DadsAFOL

sid3windr

I built my own Stig years ago for my Speed Champions diorama; looks exactly like that minus the key chain ;-)

Charmiefcb

donutboy said:

It's gonna be something weird like the Top Gear Track-Tor or Reliant Robin space shuttle. There's no need for a Top Gear licence to do, say, a Ford or a Jag. I agree that it seems a pointless licence otherwise.

I'd buy their train as long as it came with plenty of optional fire pieces.

cody6268

Personally, had Lego used Top Gear co-branding with what would become the Speed Champions line way back in 2012; that would have been a golden opportunity for LEGO. 

As this new set is $130, intended for "nine years old and up" means it's most likely, going to be overpriced for its target demographic, and as a result of the target demographic and the small 463 piece count, too overly-simplified for older enthusiasts like myself. But given as it will be most likely highly discounted towards this time next year, it will likely be a good way for me to pick up some new Powered Up! components. 

shikadi

Legoloverman said:

This might be a good time to confess I sneaked an Exo Suit into the last official Lego/Top Gear crossover, and literally nobody noticed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7YDMt7jOfU

Very sneaky! Blink and you miss it in the corner at 0:11. Clever